Ftjbitace



Feb. 7, 1933. R J LOAN 1,896,252

FURNACE Filed March 4, 1950 1 II III INVENTOR. Roam? J. -5L 041v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 ROBERT IPSLOAN, OF ELMH'UBS'1, NEW YORK rummcn Application filed March 4, 1930. Serial No. 433,060.

This invention is an improvement in fur.- naces, and more particularly in the type of furnace having an automaticfeed. v

, In the usual type of furnace for household use, it is necessary to refuel two or more times within twenty-four hours, in order to attain uniform heating of the house or apartment. One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of .a furnace of the class described, provided withan automatic feed device, for obtaining a substantially constant supply of fuel throughout a selected period.

-Another object is the provision of a type of feeder, which maybe attached to existing furnaces, without material change in the same, and without interfering with the functions of the furnace in any way.

Another object is to provide a feeder wherein the fuel is delivered at a suitable point above the grate, and below the level of the fire door, but wherein the delivery mechanism is so constructed that it may be displaced in part, when it is necessary to clean the fire. 7

Another object is to provide mechanism in connection with the feeder for shutting off the How of fuel, during the cleaning of the fire, without necessitating the awaiting of a time when the magazine is empty.

Another object is to provide mechanism in the form of an attachment, capable of installation in existing furnaces or boilers, in connection with an opening into the furnace or boiler, constructed by the maker.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a front view of the improved furnace. Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a section on the "line 3-8' of Fig. '2. 7

In the present embodiment of the invention, the furnace is of usual construction, havinga base 1 which provides an ash-pit, and a body 2 which is jacketed as indicated at 3. The body has the usual smoke outlet 4:, and a grate 5, preferably of the revolving type, is arrangedbetween' the combustion chamber 6 of the body and the ash-pit. This is-a usual type of furnace, having the usual feed door 7, hinged at 8 to the body, and the cleaning door 9 for the flues.

In order to convert this usual type of furnace into an automaticfeeder, I provide" an 1 opening at one side of the door, preferably at the hinged side, formed by cutting away a 7 part of the door frame, as shown at 1;O,and

an adjacent cornerof thedoor, as shown at '11. Thus a circular opening is provided, the :79 greater part of which is in the door frame.-

It wiil be understood that in furnaces of all types, the jacket does not extend entirelyto the door-opening, as indicated in Fig. 2,;and

it is in this single'wall portion of the 100613 that the opening 10 is provided. The opening may lee-formed in any suitablemanner at the -oundry for new furnaces and the place of installation in old furnaces. I

A feed chute comp d of a hollow elbow 86 "12 and a tubul-ar extension 13 is supported in the opening 10-11. This chute, which is of a selected cross-section to provide the amount of feed required, slants downwardly and inwardly, and terminates at a'bout the center of and at a selected distance above the v grate. The portion '13 is connected to the elbow portion-"12 by a hinge 14 arrangedat the upper side of the chute, so that the portion 18 maybe swung upwardlyinto theidot- 90 tied-line position of Fig; when cleanin the fire and the like. g

' Any suitable means may be provided'for lifting the free end of the portion 13, and

holding a lifted, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In the present instance,-'-a chain '15 is connected with the portion '13 near its Y free end, and extends upwardly through a smoke .opening .16 cf the furnace to a connec- 7 .tion wlth the innerendof a rod 17, mounted f As for instance, the rod is shown as provided with a lug 18, which will pass through the opening for the rod, and will hold the rod when the rod is turned slightly. Any suitable form of hopper 19 may be connected with the upper end of the feed chute, and the hopper should be of a size to contain fuel for at least twenty-four hours. The hopper may .be supported by the furnace, or by the building, or in any other suitable manner, and

means is provided in the feed chute forshuttingoff the flow of fuel through thesame when desired.

' The said means is in the form of a plate 20,

(Fig.3) having a plurality of fingers 21, which are slidably mounted in openings in the side of the chute. The plate has a handle portion 22 as shown. WVhen it is shoved i11- ward, the fingers extend across thechute and stop the flow of fuel.- When it is pulled out ward, the fuel will flow freely. The feed chute ma be supported inany suitable manner, as or instance, by a bracket 23 connected with the stove body. 1 L

In operation, the hopper is filled, and as the fuel burns, more slides down the chute. Should the coal clinker, and the fire require cleaning, the slide 20 is pushed into the closed position, the portion 13 of the chute is lifted, and the fire is as accessible as if there were no feed device in place. The portion 13 of not interfere with the water acket. The door opening offers a convenient starting place for cutting an opening. The top of the chute may be bent laterally somewhat if necessary, to clear the upper flue door.

What is claimed as new is V In combination with a coal burning furnace having a fire-door, a fire box and a grate, a feeder attachment adapted to be attached to such furnaces, and comprising a hollow elbow having a downwardly inclined portion projecting through an o ening formed partially in the front wall of the furnace and partially in the fire-door and so located that the door may be opened and'closed when the feeder is in position, an inclined tubular extension hinged to'theinner end of the inclined portion of the elbow, the outlet end of said extension beingpositioned substantially centrally of the fire-box above the grate, means attached to the hinged extension andoperable from outside the furnace for lifting the extension for the purpose specified, a storage hopper for coal having an opening in its bottom communicating with the upper end of the elbow, and means for supporting the elbow and the hopper. V

Signed at New York city, in the countyof New York and State of New :York this 15th day of February A. D., 1930. i

. ROBERT J. SLOAN.

the hopper moves by gravity into operative the improved feeder, the fire requires attention only once a day.

The man of the house may attend to the furnace before the leaves in the morning, and

position, when the rod 17 is released. With opening because there is but a single Wall around the opening, and the cutout can be made without interfering with the water parent, however, that it might be at the other side, or in any other position where it will 

